James Smith sits down with Governor George Wallace in one of the Governor’s first interviews since he has announced his candidacy for President of the United States. by Laura
James Smith: I would like to first thank you for your time Mr. Governor, I know that it is very precious to you. Governor Wallace: Well of course I am a very busy man, but I feel that an interview such as this will help others to see my campaign platform as reasonable and even the best tool for a good future for the United States. JS: Exactly. But, before we talk about the campaign for Presidency I would like to ask you how you got involved in Politics? Were any other members of your family involved in the Government? GW: Well, I was the first in my family to get involved in politics but I think that my parents had a strong hand in that. Though they wanted me to continue on with my success as a boxer, I felt that I needed to change paths. I saw the field of politics as a giant boxing ring. To be successful, you have to pick your punches and then aim them with the right amount of force. I think that this is why I have been elected Governor of Alabama twice already. But, I also have a law degree from the University of Alabama (roll tide!) which has helped me with the background knowledge that is needed to be a great, effective Governor. JS: I completely understand that thinking and I think that is how you have become so successful in politics. But, a lot of people out there are wondering how you overcame your first defeat in 1958 by John Patterson. Did you change your campaign platform to win in 1962? GW: The election of 1958 was a fluke. Patterson was one of the worst governors we have ever had and the only reason he won was because I didn’t have the support of the Ku Klux Klan. The reason I won in 1962 was because I was the best candidate for the job. It might have also helped that I had the KKK on my side, but it was mainly because I was the best candidate for the job. JS: But, Governor Wallace, almost immediately after the beginning of your term as Governor of Alabama, President Kennedy tried to integrate the University. What were your thoughts on that? GW: Everyone knows that I hate integration and I don’t think that it is necessary. When the President tried to impose his beliefs on us down in here in Alabama, I was fed up. He was up in Washington, not caring about us until it came time for his face to be in the newspaper. He only tried to integrate the University because people were asking him about why he wasn’t doing anything to fix our so called “racism” in the south. I stood in that doorway and did everything in my power to keep those power hungry Feds out of our schools. But, eventually their police came and forced me out of the way. I hope that all of Alabama knows that I did that for them. I stood in that doorway to try and keep everything from changing. JS: I think that everyone in Alabama knows that you had us in your heart. Now what about this Presidential campaign? How is that going? GW: Well I announced my candidacy for the 1968 election just last week and I can’t wait to start campaigning. Though I have ran for President before and lost, I know that this time will be different. I am running as a member of the American Independent, which is a third-party organization. I believe that this anti-liberal organization upholds my belief better than any combination of Democrats and Republicans. One of the main issues that I am bringing up in the debates is integration. How can the federal government force something on a state that has been functioning so well without it for so many years? Hopefully, I will influence many people and win the election. I hope that the vote will be sent to the House of Representatives so that they can decide for themselves who should be president. I have had great support from our home state of Alabama but I have also had strong support by the Media. George Shannon from the Shreveport Journal has been instrumental in gaining support all over the South. JS: In closing Governor Wallace, do you feel like you will be a successful President of the United States? GW: I do not think I can be beat. I believe that to keep the country successful and orderly, we need to keep the races separate and stop trying to change things that have worked in the past. Segregation needs to remain so that the whole country is not in an uproar when things are completely changed. If I am not the President, this country will fall to the African-Americans who are not worthy of running a successful country. I know that I am not the most controlled guy, but I think that my outspoken nature will get the attention of the public who will realize that I am the best candidate for president.
James Smith sits down with Governor George Wallace in one of the Governor’s first interviews since he has announced his candidacy for President of the United States. by Laura
James Smith: I would like to first thank you for your time Mr. Governor, I know that it is very precious to you.
Governor Wallace: Well of course I am a very busy man, but I feel that an interview such as this will help others to see my campaign platform as reasonable and even the best tool for a good future for the United States.
JS: Exactly. But, before we talk about the campaign for Presidency I would like to ask you how you got involved in Politics? Were any other members of your family involved in the Government?
GW: Well, I was the first in my family to get involved in politics but I think that my parents had a strong hand in that. Though they wanted me to continue on with my success as a boxer, I felt that I needed to change paths. I saw the field of politics as a giant boxing ring. To be successful, you have to pick your punches and then aim them with the right amount of force. I think that this is why I have been elected Governor of Alabama twice already. But, I also have a law degree from the University of Alabama (roll tide!) which has helped me with the background knowledge that is needed to be a great, effective Governor.
JS: I completely understand that thinking and I think that is how you have become so successful in politics. But, a lot of people out there are wondering how you overcame your first defeat in 1958 by John Patterson. Did you change your campaign platform to win in 1962?
GW: The election of 1958 was a fluke. Patterson was one of the worst governors we have ever had and the only reason he won was because I didn’t have the support of the Ku Klux Klan. The reason I won in 1962 was because I was the best candidate for the job. It might have also helped that I had the KKK on my side, but it was mainly because I was the best candidate for the job.
JS: But, Governor Wallace, almost immediately after the beginning of your term as Governor of Alabama, President Kennedy tried to integrate the University. What were your thoughts on that?
GW: Everyone knows that I hate integration and I don’t think that it is necessary. When the President tried to impose his beliefs on us down in here in Alabama, I was fed up. He was up in Washington, not caring about us until it came time for his face to be in the newspaper. He only tried to integrate the University because people were asking him about why he wasn’t doing anything to fix our so called “racism” in the south. I stood in that doorway and did everything in my power to keep those power hungry Feds out of our schools. But, eventually their police came and forced me out of the way. I hope that all of Alabama knows that I did that for them. I stood in that doorway to try and keep everything from changing.
JS: I think that everyone in Alabama knows that you had us in your heart. Now what about this Presidential campaign? How is that going?
GW: Well I announced my candidacy for the 1968 election just last week and I can’t wait to start campaigning. Though I have ran for President before and lost, I know that this time will be different. I am running as a member of the American Independent, which is a third-party organization. I believe that this anti-liberal organization upholds my belief better than any combination of Democrats and Republicans. One of the main issues that I am bringing up in the debates is integration. How can the federal government force something on a state that has been functioning so well without it for so many years? Hopefully, I will influence many people and win the election. I hope that the vote will be sent to the House of Representatives so that they can decide for themselves who should be president. I have had great support from our home state of Alabama but I have also had strong support by the Media. George Shannon from the Shreveport Journal has been instrumental in gaining support all over the South.
JS: In closing Governor Wallace, do you feel like you will be a successful President of the United States?
GW: I do not think I can be beat. I believe that to keep the country successful and orderly, we need to keep the races separate and stop trying to change things that have worked in the past. Segregation needs to remain so that the whole country is not in an uproar when things are completely changed. If I am not the President, this country will fall to the African-Americans who are not worthy of running a successful country. I know that I am not the most controlled guy, but I think that my outspoken nature will get the attention of the public who will realize that I am the best candidate for president.
Resources:
(1) “Timeline of George Wallace’s Life.” PBS. 1999. Public Broadcast Service. 7 December 2007. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/wallace/index.html>.
(2) “1968 Campaign.” PBS. 1999. Public Broadcast Service. 7 December 2007. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/wallace/peopleevents/pande07.html>.
(3) Pearson, Richard. “Former Ala. Gov. George C. Wallace Dies.” Washingtonpost.com. Ed. Jim Brady. 14 September 1998. The Washington Post Company. 7 December 2007. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/daily/sept98/wallace.htm>.